6.5 PRC
- Thread starter PLC204
- Start date
6.5CM, + about 200fps - 250fps bullet weight, for bullet weight. BUT, the extra speed will cost you powder.
Very accurate with hand loads, and many get excellent results with factory.
I have one in a 22" barrel, ELD-X 143gn @ 3070fps. 59.2gn RL26.
I also have a 6.5CM, 24" barrel, ELD-X 143gn @2875fps, 42gn RS60, and also very accurate.
There are guys running up to 156gn bullets, and getting circa 3100fps, but with barrels circa 26", and the appropriate twist rate.
Love it.
Have one with a 24” barrel and use factory 147gr ELDM. More accurate than I am. Very effective killer out to 350m plus. Every deer that I’ve hit where I meant to has folded up on the spot (roe, red, sika and fallow). Had 3 runners, but all of those were poor shots. Even standard heart/lung shots, completely avoiding the shoulder, flattens them.
In comparison to well known, established cartridges, it’s most similar to a .270 (in fact, probably indistinguishable in most contexts). The big difference is substantially less recoil that a .270.
The downside is that meat damage at close range can be pretty savage. Under 150m, I try to head shoot or I lose too much of the front end.
If you already have a .270, it’s not worth changing. But if you’re looking for something new, it’s well worth it.
Have one with a 24” barrel and use factory 147gr ELDM. More accurate than I am. Very effective killer out to 350m plus. Every deer that I’ve hit where I meant to has folded up on the spot (roe, red, sika and fallow). Had 3 runners, but all of those were poor shots. Even standard heart/lung shots, completely avoiding the shoulder, flattens them.
In comparison to well known, established cartridges, it’s most similar to a .270 (in fact, probably indistinguishable in most contexts). The big difference is substantially less recoil that a .270.
The downside is that meat damage at close range can be pretty savage. Under 150m, I try to head shoot or I lose too much of the front end.
If you already have a .270, it’s not worth changing. But if you’re looking for something new, it’s well worth it.
EasternCaper
Well-Known Member
Just had one built and will be my new goto as a replacement to my faithful 270 whose barrel is sadly finished. As a longer range shooter the biggest benefit I was looking for is drastically minimized wind drift.
6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
I’ve got a relatively inexpensive Savage chambered for the round . I’ve got two loads that shot 1/4 MOA for three shots . Ones using the Hornady 140 SST and the others with the Hornady 143 that they use in the factory PRC hunting ammo . I incidentally killed a whitetail doe this past season with the PRC shooting the 143 handload . Heck of a long shot offhand no less at the astronomical distance of 42 yards LOL’s !
I would be crying into my porage over that 50fps.
Not with factory
Drop off In velocity when you move up from 130gr in factory loads is savage.
Most 150gr 270 factory is doing 2850
Factory 147gr elm in 6.5prc is pushing 3000
Home load or use longer barrel and your limit is much higher
Wasn’t a believer when they came out but having shot them in several forms now its what the .270 should be capable of but just isn’t without wringing it’s neck
The 6.5PRC also has notably less felt recoil for the same rifle weight/load
Short stubby cases are known to be significantly more efficient (fps/gr)
This is no exception
ChesterP
Well-Known Member
I can well see the attraction of the accuracy of this chambering, but cannot for the life of me see the fascination with chasing very high MVs and using a round which handicaps barrel life considerably compared with say 270 or 308. That may not be an issue with a purely hunting rifle where that could well represent 20 years of shooting though! Terminal velocities of low to mid 2000's are usually enough to flatten most deer using a 140 to 150grn SP bullets with decent bullet placement and with ballistic tipped bullets my own experience using 6.5 and 223 is that they can do considerable meat damage inside of 150yds driven hard. You can also get the lower recoil with a 6.5x55 or 260Rem, 6.5 x 47 or 6.5CM too if that is the aim. For competition use, the 6.5 PRC obviously makes a lot of sense if changing barrels relatively frequently is seen as a cost of ownership. I guess for longer range shooting, the PRC comes into its own with flatter trajectories and less wind drift than some more conventional cals. It's here though that I'd perhaps look to a 7mm alternative I think. Slippery high BC bullets which hang onto velocity well and don't have to be driven as hard. Personal preference perhaps.
EDCM
Well-Known Member
So Taking into account what's been said above, I am looking for a round that can reach a mile with reasonable consistency, but NOT going down the HME route.
I already have a 308 and 6mm CM, so any suggestions for the requirements above, the 6.5PRC looks to be there.
I am just going by what I have read, I have no personal experience of the 6.5PRC
Eddie
I already have a 308 and 6mm CM, so any suggestions for the requirements above, the 6.5PRC looks to be there.
I am just going by what I have read, I have no personal experience of the 6.5PRC
Eddie
I would be taking a good look at the forthcoming 7mm PRC.
(Other 7mm's are available...).
I hear that these now come with the purchase of any new Hornady chambering (failure to wear on a daily basis will cause a 37% reduction of barrel life)
No use to me.I hear that these now come with the purchase of any new Hornady chambering (failure to wear on a daily basis will cause a 37% reduction of barrel life)
I am a Blaser tart....
I got the carbon fibre version.....with leather inlays and contrast stitching.
Increased my accuracy by nearly 43%
